Eraser attachment for typewriters



Sept 2, 1941- G. H. HUTAFF, JR v l 2,254,683

ERASER ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWBITERS Filed June 18, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l sept. 2; 1941. G, H HUTAFF, JR I 2,254,683

ERASER ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed June 18, 1938 2 sheets-sheet? a s 9 T S/ttomwws Patented Sept. 2, 1941 UNITED STTES TENT -fI 4FICE Y 2,254,683 y A simsen ArrAonMEN'r ron TYrEwm'rEas George H. Hutai, Jr., Wilmington, N. C. Application rune is, 193s, serial No. 214,561 g (ox. 24e- 226).

1 Claim.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in an eraser attachment for typewriters and has for its kprincipal object the provision of novel means forsupporting and operating the eraser, the eraser being in the form of a disc adapted to be swung or moved into engagement with the paper surrounding the typewriter platen and rotated to make thedesired erasures.

Another object of the invention consists in the provision of novel forms of brackets adapted to be detachably connected to a typewriter, the brackets having bearing portions for rotatably supporting a shaft which carries the eraser,V the shaft being rotated in a novel manner to bring the eraser into engagement with the paper surrounding the typewriter platen or raised out of engagement therefrom.

A further object ofthe invention resides inthe provision of novel means for normally holding the eraser in raised position but permitting the same to be lowered into operative position relative to the typewriter platen to permit erasing, means also being provided for rotating the eraser while in' contact with the paper around the platen and on which the letters or words have been typed.

With the above and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, my in- Ventiori consists in the novel details of' construction, and arrangement of parts, described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawingsgand while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, as they now appear to me, it will be understood that such changes may be made as will fall within the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawings- Fig. l is a top plan, a portion of the typewriter keyboard being broken away. Y

Fig. 2 is a fragmental top plan showing the eraser in raised position.

Fig. 3 is an end view, with the typewriter platen' shown in section, showing the eraser in -rai'sed position. Y

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the eraser in lowered position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the eraser in lowered position.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental rear elevation with parts shown broken away.

Fig. '7' is a horizontal section on the line I-l of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 9 is. a isection on the line Q Sof Fig. 5 looking'in the direction of the arrows.

As the typewriter proper forms no part of the present invention no detailed description thereof will be given other than 'tosay that I indicates a portion of the typewriter lframe, 2 a portion of the keyboard, 3 the ordinary platen and 4 the knobs secured'to each end of the platen for rotating the same in the usual wel1-kncwn manner.

At 5 and t I have illustrated brackets or plates adapted to be detachably connected to opposite end portions lof the typewriter frame, each of these brackets or plates being formed at its upper end with a rearwardly directed extension l by and between which is rotatably supported a hollow shaft or sleeve l to which is secured a housingY 8 whichy supports and carries the rotatable eraser disc 5. The eraser disc' is yadapted to be rotated through suitable mechanism which is mounted within the housingil and a shaft which extends through the hollowshaft or sleeve l and which in turn is operated through means of the knob Iii. As the eraserv supportV and rotating means for the eraser form no part of the present invention a vfurther detailed description will not be given but reference is made, for an understanding of said mechanism, to applicants copending application led January 28, 1938, Serial No. 187,520. f i

Each of the brackets or plates 5 and 6 has detachably connected to its inner face, by means of the screws' Il orother suitable fastenings, a plate- I2 having an edge portion turned at right angles',as shown at I3, which right angle portion is formed at its end with an inwardly directed extension I4, as shown more particularly in Fig. 8 of the drawings. The plates I2 are positioned intermediate the ends ofthe brackets or plates 5 and 6, as shownmore particularly in Figs. 3, 5 and 6 of the drawings 'and are adapted to be engaged with a vertical edge portion of an end of the frame I as clearly shown. A screw I5 is received in a threaded opening in the brackets or plates 5 and 6 and associated'plate I 2 and is adapted for adjustment to secure the brackets or plates 5 and 6 to the frame I as will presently be brought out more in detail.

Secured to the bottom edge of each of the brackets or plates 5 and 6, by means of the screws I6 or other suitable fastenings, is a plate II having a bottom extension I8 provided at its outer edge with an upwardly directed portion or ange IS providing a channel to receive a bottom edge of the typewriter frame I as shown more particularly in Fig. 9 of the drawings. Screws 20 are received in threaded openings in the plates I1 and extend through threaded openings in the brackets and 6 to engage with the outer face of the edge of the typewriter frame for securing the brackets in position.

From what has been said in will be seen that the brackets or plates 5 and 6 which support the eraser, and operating means therefor, may be easily connected to or disconnected from the typewriter frame and are adapted for use on typewriters of various makes. As has been described, and as is shown, when the brackets or plates 5 and '6 are in position the extensions I3 and I 4, of the plates I2, engage around an edge portion of the rear of the frame whereas the channels formed in the plates I1 engage under and around a bottom edge of the type# writer frame. By adjusting the screws I5 and they engage the faces of the typewriter frame, as shown more particularly in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, and force the portions I4 of the plates I2 and the portions I9 of the plates I1 into tight frictional engagement with an opposite face of the frame and therefore securely hold the brackets or plates 5 and 6 in position. The brackets or plates 5 and 6 may be easily removed by releasing the screws I5 and 20. At times, due to parts of the typewriter, it maybe impossible to remove the brackets or plates 5,

and 6 by merely loosening the screws I5 and 20, but if this is the case the plates I2 may be removed by releasing the screws II and the plates I1 may be removed by releasing the screws I6. It is thought that this will be clearly understood from an examination of the drawings.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings I have shown the eraser or eraser disc in its normal raised position. -When it is desired to erase the eraser disc is to be swung down into the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. In order toA raise and lower the eraser, into the desired positions, I have provided the novel mechanism which I will now describe, it being understood that when the eraserr or eraser disc is in its lowermost position, shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, inengagement with the paper which is around the platen, it may be rotated in the manner, and through the mechanism, described and illustrated in my co-pending application above identified.

A collar 2| is secured to or formed as a part of the hollow shaft 1 and formed as a part of this collar, or secured thereto in any desired manner, is the depending arm 22' provided adjacent its lower end with an opening 23`to receive one end of a coiled spring 24, the opposite end of the coiled spring being secured to a pin 25, extending inwardly from the bracket or plate 6, as shown more particularly in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and '1 of the drawings. Projecting horizontally from one face of the arm 22 is a pin or screw 26 to which is pivotally connected one end of a slidable member 21, a spacing sleeve 28 being received on the pin or screw 26 between the arm 22 and the end of the slidable member, as shown more particularly in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

The slidable member is formed with the elongated opening 29 in which operates the shank of a ,screw 30, threaded in an opening in the bracket or plate 6. The outer or upper end of the elongated opening 29 is enlarged as shown at 3l to receive the screw 30, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5 of the drawings when the slidable member is in its lowermost position. Formed on the free or outer end of the slidable member 21 is an enlarged nger-engaging portion shown at 32.

When the parts are in the position shown more particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, and it is desired to lower the eraser disc 9 into contact with the paper around the platen, the operator engages the finger-engaging portion 32 and on pressing down upon the same slides the member 21 to swing the arm 22 rearwardly and place the coiled spring 24 under tension. When the slidable member is lowered the screw 30 will be received in the enlarged end 3| of the opening 29 and thereby hold the slidable member in its lowered position against the action of the coiled spring 24. When the arm 22 is swung rearwardly it rotates the hollow rod or sleeve 1 and swings the eraser disc downwardly into the position shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings and into contact with the paper around the typewriter platen. When in this lowered position the eraser disc 9 will be rotated, in the manner previously described, by rotating the knob IU and the erasure will be made. When it is desired to raise the eraser disc into its original position the operator engages the 4 nger under the finger-engaging portion 32 and by raising the same slightly disengages the screw 30 from the enlarged end 3| of the opening and then the coiled spring 24 will return the parts to their original positions.

From the above detailed'description it will be noted that in the present application I have illustrated, described and will claim, novel supporting means for the eraser, more particularly novel brackets or members for supporting the rotatable shaft which carries the eraser, as well as novel means for rotating the said shaft Ato lower the eraser or eraser disc into contact with the paper around the platen 'or to raise vthe same from engagement therewith.

Ijlavingfully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

An attachment for supporting an eraser relative to a typewriter platen including brackets extending vertically and parallel with end portions of the typewriter frame, channel members detachably connected to the brackets and adapted to receive bottom edge portionsof the typewriter frame, channel members `detachably connected to the brackets'intermediate their-ends and adapted to receive vertical edge portions of the typewriter frame, and adjustable members carried by the brackets and operable in openings of the channel members for detachably-com necting the brackets to the typewriter frame.

GEORGE HUTAFF. JR. 

